All articles tagged with #hall of fame voting
Deion Sanders criticized the Pro Football Hall of Fame voting process, calling for an upper tier of voters and questioning the current electors, while naming players like Darren Woodson, Asante Samuel and Fred Taylor as worthy; reforms are being discussed, but there’s no confirmed plan to change who votes yet.
Tony Dungy declined to disclose whether he voted for Bill Belichick on the Pro Football Hall of Fame ballot, saying he won’t comment until the official results are announced and the Hall’s procedures are followed.
Robert Kraft was denied induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 in the contributor category, joining Bill Belichick in missing the required 40 of 50 votes. Kraft has been a finalist for 14 years, and the vote underscored ongoing scrutiny of the Hall’s process, with Kraft praising Belichick while commissioner Roger Goodell defended the voting as independent. The piece also notes Belichick’s departure from the Patriots and Kraft’s long influence on the franchise as the team heads toward Super Bowl 2026.
Manning did not advance to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026, remaining a modern-era finalist for a second straight year; despite two Lombardi Trophies and a 16-year Giants career, he lacks multiple All-Pro honors, has only four Pro Bowls, and a .500 career record, factors cited as reasons he’s not yet a first-ballot inductee, though many expect eventual enshrinement.
Former NFL executive Bill Polian tells ESPN he can't recall with 100 percent certainty whether he voted for Bill Belichick for the Hall of Fame, saying he’s 95 percent sure he did; he had previously told SI.com he cast a ballot for Belichick. Polian also denied pressuring other voters and urged full disclosure of ballots to increase transparency in the Hall of Fame voting process.
The Baseball Hall of Fame's 2024 class was announced, with legendary closer Bobby Wagner narrowly missing the vote threshold. Despite his impressive career stats, Wagner's omission highlights the perceived antiquated mindset of Hall of Fame voters. The article criticizes the gatekeeper mentality of voters and points out inconsistencies in their decision-making process. The author, a fan of Wagner, expresses frustration at the possibility of Wagner being snubbed and vows to advocate for his induction next year.
The Baseball Hall of Fame is expected to welcome a multi-member class for the first time in four years, with Adrian Beltre and Joe Mauer likely to be inducted on their first year on the ballot. Todd Helton and Billy Wagner are also poised for induction, while Gary Sheffield may fall just short. The Hall of Fame voting process has been impacted by the steroid era, with players like Alex Rodriguez facing challenges in their candidacy. Looking ahead, Ichiro Suzuki is a sure bet for induction next year, with several other players having a good chance to enter the Hall of Fame in the future.